Pictet Buys $77M AbbVie Stake as Quarterly Dividend Rises 5.5% to $1.73

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Banque Pictet & Cie SA increased its stake in AbbVie by 89.2% to 333,971 shares worth $77.33 million after purchasing 157,480 shares during Q3. The company also announced a quarterly dividend hike to $1.73 per share (3.0% yield), up from $1.64, payable Feb. 17 to shareholders of record Jan. 16.

1. Neuroscience Franchise Fuels Top-Line Expansion

AbbVie’s neuroscience portfolio now accounts for more than 17% of total revenues, driven by Botox, Vraylar and the company’s migraine therapy. In the fourth quarter, Botox sales rose 12% year-over-year, while Vraylar delivered a 25% increase in global prescriptions. Migraine treatment volumes climbed 18% globally, contributing to overall double-digit growth in the neuroscience segment. Management highlighted that strong uptake of these products helped offset Humira revenue declines, underscoring the success of AbbVie’s strategic shift toward diversified specialty medicines.

2. Institutional Investors Rebalance Stakes

During the third quarter, Generali Asset Management SPA SGR trimmed its position in AbbVie by 7.3%, reducing holdings by 6,172 shares. Meanwhile, Vanguard Group increased its stake by 1.9%, adding more than 3.3 million shares, and Norges Bank initiated a new position valued at approximately $4.3 billion. Banque Pictet & Cie SA also boosted its exposure by nearly 90%, acquiring an additional 157,480 shares valued at $77.3 million. Institutional ownership now stands at just over 70%, reflecting broad confidence in AbbVie’s cash generation and pipeline prospects.

3. Q3 Earnings Beat and Dividend Hike

AbbVie reported third-quarter earnings per share of $1.86, exceeding consensus estimates by $0.09, while revenues grew 9.1% year-over-year to $15.78 billion, topping the Street forecast of $15.58 billion. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 5.5% to $1.73 per share, representing an annualized payout of $6.92 and a yield near 3.0%. Free cash flow for the quarter exceeded $6 billion, supporting both the increased payout and ongoing debt reduction efforts. Management reaffirmed full-year guidance, anticipating adjusted EPS of $3.32–$3.36 for the fourth quarter.

Sources

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